Impact of Omalla's failed transfer: Career consequences and mental health challenges

Various football stakeholders have expressed their thoughts on Gor Mahia's Benson Omalla’s unsuccessful move to Algeria's JS Souara.

The Algerian side opted out of signing the 22-year-old striker at the last minute and instead chose to sign 24-year-old Carl Wunda Ngana from DR Congo.

This dramatic turn of events has left many wondering if Omalla's mental resilience could be affected, impacting her ability to continue shining in the domestic league.

Many of these stakeholders, including Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir, believe that, like any other player, Omalla should have the character and understanding that such situations are a common occurrence in football.

According to Korir, when a player is mentally and psychologically prepared, such incidents won't affect them both mentally and career-wise.

"As long as you're involved in football, it's essential to cultivate resilience because there will always be ups and downs. You might aim to be the top scorer for the season and end up facing setbacks, such as not playing or not achieving your goal.

“If you don't succeed initially, you keep striving for success in the future. Therefore, failed transfer moves are a common occurrence in football. Clubs often have backup options in mind, particularly as the transfer window draws to a close," Korir explained.

Korir also suggested that sometimes it's the player's agents who contribute to failed transfer deals by engaging clubs at the last minute.

"You need to determine whether these moves are between clubs or between agents, as many transfers are driven by agents who push deals without direct club involvement, leading to last-minute complications. Understanding the dynamics of such transfers is crucial," Korir explained.

Korir, however, noted that these complications involved in transfers can affect a player's mentality, especially when it could have been a significant financial move.

He therefore urged players to remain mentally strong when such deals collapse, emphasizing that there's always the possibility of securing a better deal next time.

"The player will be affected because hopes are always high, especially when a high salary is in the picture, offering a potential solution to their troubles. So, if a transfer fails, it will have an impact.

It's, however, crucial for the player to maintain a strong character and understand that if one opportunity doesn't materialize, there will be others to pursue. They must remain resilient and patient for the next opportunity to arise," Korir added.

Korir's sentiments have been echoed by former Harambee Stars player Boniface Ambani, who emphasizes that a player must possess the strength to handle any outcome in the transfer process.

"To become a professional player, you must possess mental fortitude, whether a deal goes through or not. With strong mental resilience, such outcomes won't affect you.

"You'll understand that while the opportunity was present, it didn't materialize, but there will always be another chance. You may even find yourself with a better offer in the future than the one that fell through," Ambani emphasized.

The former AFC Leopards player, who had stints with Tanzania’s Yanga, added that there are numerous factors at play behind the scenes during transfer negotiations. When a deal fails to materialize, it's important not to assign blame to one party without fully understanding the complexities of the situation.

“There are many factors at play, so it's not fair to assign blame to just one side. It's essential to sit down, analyze the situation, and listen to both perspectives to understand what happened. I believe both Gor Mahia and Omalla did their best to facilitate the deal.

"You can't simply release a player because an offer comes your way. It's crucial to consider the player's welfare and assess whether the deal benefits both parties,” Ambani emphasized.

Psychologist Nancy Omido, who is also a counsellor, points out that when something like this happens, it often comes as a shock to the player.

"You'll find that someone has invested a significant amount of effort, and emotions, and likely made plans for how they'll use the money they expect to earn if the transfer goes through. So when the transfer falls through, the player will experience feelings of sadness and grief," Omido said.

To overcome these feelings, Omido suggests that the player must acknowledge that the deal has failed and begin to strategize on how to move forward.